Cyber Security

Program Description

Professional Certificate in Cybersecurity

The Professional Certificate in Cybersecurity includes courses and topics from basic computer and system security to more advanced topics in network and application security areas of information assurance.

Cybersecurity (Minor)

The minor in Cybersecurity, a collaborative effort between Computer Information Systems for Business (CISB) and Computer Science (CSCI) faculty, provides a solid base of understanding in macro cybersecurity strategies and principles, as well as an in-depth review of applied cybersecurity tools and techniques

These programs are excellent enhancements to computer science and related fields. They are designed to provide students interested in careers in cybersecurity areas with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in this very important and demanding field of information assurance.

Contact Information

Confluence Hall
1410 North 7th Street
Grand Junction, CO, 81501
970.248.1400

CISB 101 Business Information Technology3 Credits

Introduction to computing and software, including computing systems in a business environment and applicable software.

CISB 205 Advanced Business Software3 Credits

Use of electronic spreadsheets and database management software. Lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on projects. Developing customized applications with macros in spreadsheets. Creating tables, reports, forms, and queries to creating appropriate relationships and developing customized database software applications.

CISB 206 Introduction to Business Application Programming3 Credits

Beginning programming with emphasis on solving problems in the context of business applications.

CISB 210 Fundamentals of Information Systems3 Credits

Exploration of information systems in a business environment. Use of information systems to improve business processes and organizational goals. Introduction to hardware, software, ethical issues, career opportunities, and organizational uses of information systems.

CISB 211 Introduction to Cybersecurity3 Credits

Introduction to cybersecurity in a business environment. Topics include policy and governance, frameworks, risk and asset management, data loss prevention, access control management, and cybersecurity incident response.

Terms Typically Offered: Fall.

CISB 221 Introduction to Digital Forensics3 Credits

Introduction to computer and digital forensics. Topics include network, hardware, and operating principles of computers and mobile devices, as they pertain to digital forensics and cybersecurity investigations. Special application on applying digital forensics principles to real world case studies.

Terms Typically Offered: Spring.

CISB 241 Introduction to Business Analysis3 Credits

Introduction to descriptive, predictive, and inferential analysis techniques with business applications. Topics include summarizing data graphically and numerically; elementary probability; discrete and continuous probability distributions; sampling distributions; intervals and tests for one and two samples; correlation and regression; chi-squared tests; and one-way analysis of variance. Appropriate business and statistical software will be used.

Prerequisites: MATH 113 or higher.

Equivalent Course(s): STAT 241

Terms Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.

CISB 295 Independent Study1-3 Credits

Course may be taken multiple times up to maximum of 6 credit hours.

CISB 305 Solving Problems Using Spreadsheets3 Credits

Critical analysis and problem solving using tools in spreadsheets. Decision support utilizing spreadsheet tools covered by hands-on cases, book tutorials, and lecture materials. Structured problems, semi-structured problems, and what-if scenarios explored.

Terms Typically Offered: Fall.

CISB 306 Solving Problems Using Databases3 Credits

For students who have minimal background in databases. Assists in understanding the importance of data management in organizations through hands-on experience in solving business problems using relational database management software.

CISB 309 Enterprise Systems3 Credits

Theoretical and practical issues of enterprise systems within organizations. Demonstrates how enterprise systems integrate information and organizational processes across functional areas with a unified system comprised of a single database and shared reporting tools.

Prerequisites: CISB 210.

CISB 311 Fundamentals of Cloud Security3 Credits

Introduction to cloud-based cybersecurity and related concepts. Topics include architectural concepts and design requirements, cloud data security, cloud platform and infrastructure security, cloud application security, and cloud computing legal compliance. Special application on applying learned principles to real world case studies.

Prerequisites: CISB 211.

Terms Typically Offered: Fall.

CISB 315 Information Systems Infrastructure3 Credits

Information systems infrastructure, computer architecture and communications networks in an organizational context.

Prerequisites: CISB 210.

CISB 331 Advanced Business Programming3 Credits

Procedural and object-oriented software engineering methodologies using modern business languages. Emphasis on data definition and measurement, record and file processing, report generation and other traditional business information systems applications using modern methods of top-down, structured design. Other concepts include developing screen editors, abstract data types, and data structures including sequential, random and indexed files.

Prerequisites: CISB 206 or CSCI 110.

CISB 341 Quantitative Decision Making3 Credits

Application of inferential statistics to realistic business situations; use of quantitative tools to enhance business decision-making ability. Descriptive statistics for data summarization, probability theory, distributions, estimation, and index numbers with emphasis on hypothesis testing, analysis of variance, regression/correlation, time series, and introduction to operations research and linear programming.

Prerequisites: MATH 113 or higher, and CISB 241 or STAT 241.

CISB 342 Data Mining and Visualization3 Credits

Application of data mining and visualization tools to business related data sets. Using a blend of data mining and visualization techniques, hands-on experience will be gained in discovering how data can inform the business decision-making process.

Prerequisites: CISB 205, CISB 241 or STAT 241, and CISB 341.

Terms Typically Offered: Fall.

CISB 343 Big Data Analytics3 Credits

Analysis of large data sets for emergent patterns using modern software tools. Topics can include: NoSQL, cloud computing, and text mining tools.

Prerequisites: CISB 205, CISB 241 or STAT 241, and CISB 341.

Terms Typically Offered: Fall.

CISB 393 Cooperative Education3-12 Credits

Course may be taken multiple times up to maximum of 15 credit hours.

CISB 395 Independent Study1-3 Credits

Course may be taken multiple times up to maximum of 6 credit hours.

CISB 396 Topics1-3 Credits

Course may be taken multiple times up to maximum of 15 credit hours.

CISB 410 Project Management3 Credits

Processes, techniques and tools of project management. Evaluating, initiating, planning, staffing, executing, controlling, and closing projects using project management software.

Prerequisites: CISB 210 is a prerequisite or corequisite if the student has reached junior status.

CISB 442 Systems Analysis and Design3 Credits

Analysis and logical design of information systems. Practice in project management during team-oriented analysis and design of a departmental level system.

Prerequisites: CISB 210, CISB 309, CISB 315 (may be taken concurrently), CISB 410, and CISB 206 or CSCI 110 or CSCI 111, or permission of instructor.

CISB 451 Database Administration3 Credits

Continuation of CISB 442 Systems Analysis and Design. Covers development and implementation of conceptual and detailed physical system design using proper database tools and methods.

Prerequisites: CISB 205, CISB 442, and ACCT 202.

CISB 460 Electronic Commerce Systems3 Credits

Comprehensive examination of electronic commerce, how it is conducted and managed, and its opportunities, limitations, issues and risks. Coverage of technological infrastructure that supports e-commerce systems, plus the implications of such systems in the business environment. Exercises include exploration of e-commerce web sites and features, plus discussion and demonstration of state-of-the art e-commerce tools.

Prerequisites: CISB 210 or permission of instructor.

CISB 470 Management of Information Systems3 Credits

Reviews the development of analyzing information use by organizations with different types of information systems. The conceptual foundations of information systems and the development, operation, management, uses, parties, control, structure, and impact of these systems will be addressed. Analysis and design of information systems is stressed through case study projects, emphasizing the role of computing in information systems and design of computer-based systems, expert systems, decision support systems and executive information systems.

Prerequisites: Junior or senior status.

CISB 471 Advanced Information Systems3 Credits

Capstone course for the BS in CISB and the BAS in CISB. Integrates management information needs, decision-making criteria, and design of interactive user interfaces. Design and development of computerized management control systems for major functional modules of an organization will be investigated using database management systems, distributed processing, and structured systems development.

Prerequisites: CISB 210, CISB 331, CISB 410, CISB 442, CISB 451, and CISB 470.

Terms Typically Offered: Spring.

CISB 491 Directed Readings in Computer Information Systems1-3 Credits

Study of a leading edge topic within Computer Information Systems under direction of CIS faculty. Prior to registering, the student must meet with the CIS instructor to determine a topic and a method for reporting. For each credit hour registered, the student will read and report on at least 200 pages of scholarly readings.

Prerequisites: CIS major, junior or senior status, and permission of instructor.

CISB 493 Cooperative Education3-12 Credits

Course may be taken multiple times up to maximum of 15 credit hours.

CISB 495 Independent Study1-3 Credits

Course may be taken multiple times up to maximum of 6 credit hours.

CISB 496 Topics1-3 Credits

Course may be taken multiple times up to maximum of 15 credit hours.

CISB 500 Management of Information Systems3 Credits

Reviews the development of an overall framework for analyzing the use of information by organizations along with examples of different types of information systems. The conceptual foundations of information systems and the development, operation, management, uses, parties, control, structure, and impact of these systems will be addressed. The analysis and design of information systems is stressed through case study and projects, emphasizing the role of computing in information systems and design of computer-based systems, expert systems, decision support systems and executive information systems.

CISB 501 Business Analytics3 Credits

Examination of quantitative decision making for managers. Descriptive and predictive analytical tools in a management context will be covered along with current topics in data science and data analytics.

Terms Typically Offered: Fall.

CISB 505 Advanced Project Management3 Credits

Processes, techniques and tools of project management. Evaluating, initiating, planning, staffing, executing, controlling, and closing projects using project management software. Projects, writing, and presentation to demonstrate mastery at the graduate level.

Prerequisites: CISB 210 and permission of instructor.

CISB 560 Electronic Commerce Systems3 Credits

A comprehensive examination of the modern paradigm of electronic commerce, how it is conducted and managed, and its major opportunities, limitations, issues, and risks. Coverage of technological infrastructures that support e-commerce systems, plus the implications of such systems in the business environment. Exercises will include exploration of e-commerce web sites and features, plus discussion and demonstration of state-of-the-art e-commerce tools.

Prerequisites: Graduate status at Colorado Mesa University.

CSCI 100 Computers In Our Society3 Credits

Impact of computers on society and individuals; purpose and use of software integrated systems. Intended for students in disciplines outside the natural sciences and mathematics.

Essential Learning Categories: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Terms Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.

CSCI 104 Intro to Computer Hardware1 Credit

Computer hardware introduction. Includes purchase, maintenance and repair of computer hardware (desktops, laptops, servers and mobile devices, wired and wireless network hardware) in individual and corporate settings.

CSCI 106 Web Page Design I3 Credits

Aspects of web page design such as HTML, web servers, web graphics/sound/video, and programs that automate the design of web sites and scripts. Students will progressively develop their own sites throughout the term using software tools and concepts presented in the class.

Terms Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.

CSCI 110 Beginning Programming3 Credits

Introduction to computer programming. Includes syntax and semantics for sequential, selection, and repetition structures, program design and modularization, simple and structured data types, and file I/O. Designed for students with no programming experience or majors outside of Computer Science.

Prerequisites: MATH 110 or higher (may be taken concurrently).

Terms Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.

CSCI 110L Beginning Programming Laboratory1 Credit

Optional laboratory course to be taken as a co-requisite to CSCI 110 to enhance knowledge of computer programming. Includes syntax and semantics for sequential, selection, and repetition structures, program design and modularization, simple and structured data types, and file I/O. Designed for students with no programming experience or majors outside of Computer Science.

Prerequisites: MATH 110 or higher (may be taken concurrently).

Corequisites: CSCI 110.

Terms Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.

CSCI 111 CS1: Foundations of Computer Science4 Credits

Introduction to problem solving techniques with emphasis on modularity, abstraction, analysis, and correctness of algorithm design. Using C/C++ language as a tool. Topics covered include data types, version control, Makefile, control structures, I/O, pointers, dynamic memory, functions, unit testing, debugging, structs.

Prerequisites: CSCI 110 or MATH 113 or MATH 119A.

Terms Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.

CSCI 112 CS2: Data Structures4 Credits

Continuation of CSCI 111 using C++. Emphasis on algorithm design analysis, procedural abstraction, data abstraction, data structures, and quality programming style. Topics include the distinction between dynamic and static variables; various implementations of elementary stacks, queues, trees, and lists; comparison of recursive and iterative algorithms; program correctness; version control; and hierarchical design principles.

Prerequisites: CSCI 111 or CSCI 130.

Terms Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.

CSCI 130 Introduction to Engineering Computer Science4 Credits

Introduction to fundamental programming concepts for engineers using a systems language and a scripting language. Programming concepts include flow control, data types and pointers. Applications include signal processing and numerical methods.

Prerequisites: MATH 135 (may be taken concurrently) or MATH 151 (may be taken concurrently).

CSCI 196 Topics:1-3 Credits

Course may be taken multiple times up to maximum of 15 credit hours.

CSCI 206 Web Page Design II3 Credits

Exploration of the technologies for creating websites. Topics include using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS in the creation of functional websites while developing relevant skills. Continuation of CSCI 106.

Prerequisites: CSCI 106.

Terms Typically Offered: Spring.

CSCI 241 Computer Architecture and Assembly Language4 Credits

Architecture of a representative processor and its assembly language; register transfers and sequence control; realization of fetch, address, branch and execute cycles; start, stop and reset the computer; interrupt and memory mapped input-output; and peripherals and interfacing.

Prerequisites: CSCI 112.

Terms Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.

CSCI 250 CS3: Introduction to Algorithms3 Credits

Complexity analysis and program performance. Abstract data types such as lists, trees, stacks and queues; sorting; searching and hashing; classic algorithmic strategies, including brute force, greedy, divide and conquer; space-time tradeoff; limitations of algorithm power; and optimization strategies.

Prerequisites: CSCI 112; and MATH 151 (may be taken concurrently).

Terms Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.

CSCI 260 Introduction to Database3 Credits

Introduction to using databases. The focus of this course will be on the creation, retrieval, update, and deletion of data from databases using a variety of database management systems and programming languages.

Prerequisites: CSCI 110, CSCI 111, or CSCI 130.

Terms Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.

CSCI 296 Topics1-3 Credits

Course may be taken multiple times up to maximum of 15 credit hours.

CSCI 306 Web Page Design III3 Credits

Exploration of website management issues, server-side scripting, web server security, and database interactions. Skills associated with technologies for web servers and databases will be developed. Continuation of CSCI 206.

Prerequisites: CSCI 206.

Terms Typically Offered: Fall.

CSCI 310 Advanced Programming1-3 Credits

Exploration of higher-level programming languages and advanced concepts for CSCI majors. Specifics will vary with the language covered.

Prerequisites: CSCI 250 and MATH 151.

Terms Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.

Course may be taken 4 times for credit.

CSCI 321 Assembly Language Programming3 Credits

Introduction to assembler, creating and executing assembly language program, organization of machine under study, data definition, addressing techniques, data movement instruction, branching instructions, flag and PSW registers, arithmetic instructions, macros and their implementation, hardware and software interrupts, storing instructions, typical applications.

Prerequisites: CSCI 241.

CSCI 322 Embedded Systems3 Credits

Introduction to design of embedded systems. Skills associated with software development and debugging will be developed. Course uses modern system design platforms to create custom embedded firmware. Students will compare custom solutions to those involving the application of existing tools to control external peripherals, such as lights, sensors, and screens.

Prerequisites: CSCI 241; or CSCI 112 and ENGR 140.

Equivalent Course(s): EECE 337

Terms Typically Offered: Fall.

CSCI 330 Programming Languages3 Credits

Principles and concepts that characterize various classes of high-level computer programming languages. Topics will include syntax and semantic issues, data types/classes, control structures, binding, and storage allocation.

Prerequisites: CSCI 250.

Terms Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.

CSCI 333 UNIX Operating Systems3 Credits

Introduction to systems programming with UNIX. Topics covered include elementary and advanced user commands, file handling, process control, library routines, device drivers, shell programming, and UNIX utilities.

Prerequisites: CSCI 112 or knowledge of C++/C.

CSCI 337 User Interface Design3 Credits

Examination of user interface design (UID) principles. They include rules of perception, systems analysis, user analysis, good design principles, and testing and evaluation of designs. Using an appropriate Rapid Application Development tool, students will design a major project emphasizing UID concepts.

Prerequisites: CSCI 250 or CSCI 260.

CSCI 345 Video Game Design3 Credits

Exploration of game engine and development theory. Emphasis is on rendering, physics simulation, artificial intelligence, and optimization techniques used in the modern game construction. Students will develop at least three games during the semester.

Prerequisites: CSCI 112.

CSCI 360 Robotic Perception and Planning3 Credits

Examination of autonomous robotic system preceptors (sensors), actuators, and planner (control system) design architecture. Analysis of a variety of robotic control architectures and signal data analysis leading to design and build of small autonomous robots to meet challenging work environments and goals. Proficient industrial machine control language programmers and control system design professionals developed. Field related ethics explored.

Prerequisites: CSCI 111 or CSCI 130.

Terms Typically Offered: Spring.

CSCI 365 Data Mining3 Credits

Exploration of fundamental tools and techniques for data analysis. Transforming data into information with various programming languages. Instruction in modern techniques for data analytics, future research directions.

Prerequisites: CSCI 112; and STAT 200 or STAT 215.

Terms Typically Offered: Fall.

CSCI 370 Computer Security3 Credits

Networked-computer security, suitable for both CS and CIS majors. Topics include security framework, access control and site security, firewalls, attack methods, elements of cryptography and cryptographic systems, incidence response, security in e-commerce and e-mail, management and policy decisions for security.

Prerequisites: CSCI 250 or CISB 311.

Terms Typically Offered: Fall.

CSCI 375 Object Oriented Programming and Design Patterns3 Credits

Advanced programming techniques using the object-oriented paradigm, with emphasis on abstractness of design, encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism. Additional topics include design tools and methodologies for determining classes, responsibilities, collaborations, and hierarchies. Software engineering concepts such as design patterns, tools such as version control, and unittesting object-oriented programs are also introduced.

Prerequisites: CSCI 250.

Terms Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.

CSCI 380 Operations Research3 Credits

Methods of linear and dynamic programming, inventory and replacement models, queuing theory, game theory, PERT, CPM, and simulation.

Prerequisites: MATH 152, STAT 200, and CSCI 111.

CSCI 393 Internship1-3 Credits

The internship course provides the student with the opportunity to apply classroom theory to on-the-job experiences. During the internship course, the student will work at approved professional positions related to the computer science field. The student will be required to write and fulfill course objectives with the approval of the internship coordinator.

Prerequisites: Junior standing, written permission of internship coordinator.

Course may be taken multiple times up to maximum of 15 credit hours.

CSCI 395 Independent Study1-3 Credits

Course may be taken multiple times up to maximum of 6 credit hours.

CSCI 396 Topics:1-3 Credits

Course may be taken multiple times up to maximum of 15 credit hours.

CSCI 405 Mobile Application Development3 Credits

Application development on mobile platforms, such as smartphones and tablets. Topics include understanding hardware, application API's, marketplaces, and programming languages for these platforms.

Prerequisites: CSCI 250, CSCI 337 or CSCI 206, or permission of instructor.

CSCI 420 Software Security3 Credits

Exploration of various common security flaws in software and systems written in C/C++ programming languages. Topics include Linux commands, Bash and Python scripting, Buffer overflow, exploits, and CTFs exercises. Students will learn to find flaws and write exploit code to take advantage of the vulnerabilities as well as various mitigation techniques.

Prerequisites: CSCI 370.

Terms Typically Offered: Spring.

CSCI 425 Python Machine Learning3 Credits

Introduction to machine learning with an applied approach. Students are introduced to essential data science tools and frameworks. Traditional classification, regression, and clustering machine learning algorithms such as decision trees, support vector machines, k-means, ensemble, boosting, and bagging techniques are introduced using real-world datasets, applications, and deployment.

Prerequisites: CSCI 112; and one of the following: STAT 200, STAT 215, STAT 241, or CISB 241.

Terms Typically Offered: Spring.

CSCI 445 Computer Graphics3 Credits

Introduction to the use of the computer to produce images, including: two and three dimensional graphics, algorithms and data structures for hidden lines and surfaces, shading, and reflections.

Prerequisites: MATH 152 and CSCI 250.

Terms Typically Offered: Fall.

CSCI 450 Compiler Structure3 Credits

Structures and techniques used in compiler writing, with emphasis on scanners, symbol tables, parsers, and code generation. Error analysis and code optimization are discussed.

Prerequisites: CSCI 241 and CSCI 330 (may be taken concurrently).

Terms Typically Offered: Fall.

CSCI 460 Database Design3 Credits

Design and implementation of relational databases. Approaches and methods of design and normalization, SQL, integrity, and security will be discussed.

Prerequisites: CSCI 250.

CSCI 465 Network/Application Security3 Credits

Exploration of advanced topics in network and web-based application security, such as network exploitations and mitigations; using common network utility tools and building new tools programmatically; most common web application security flaws; browser and database security principles; and authentication and authorization in web applications.

Prerequisites: CSCI 420.

Terms Typically Offered: Fall.

CSCI 470 Operating Systems Design3 Credits

Aspects of computer operating system design and implementation including memory management, processor management, device management, information management, and performance evaluation methods.

Prerequisites: CSCI 250 and CSCI 241.

Terms Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.

CSCI 480 Algorithms: Design and Analysis3 Credits

Theoretical and applied techniques to reason about and prove properties of algorithms. Topics include: algorithm correctness and running time, how data structures can provide space-efficient ways to quickly answer queries about data, and how data structures can be used to build efficient algorithms. The notion of computability is explored in depth, and related problems are discussed.

Prerequisites: CSCI 250; and MATH 152 or MATH 369 (MATH 369 is highly recommended).

Terms Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.

CSCI 482 Theory of Computation3 Credits

Computability and automata theory introduced. Regular expressions, finite and pushdown automata, Turing machines, grammars and their relationship to automata, Church-Turing hypothesis, incomputable and undecidable functions and equivalence of computability models are covered.

Prerequisites: MATH 369 and CSCI 250.

CSCI 484 Computer Networks3 Credits

Survey of computer networks, including hardware technology for local and long haul networks, circuit and packet switching, interface between computer and network hardware, network architectures and protocols, routing, congestion and flow problems, queuing theory, and reliability issues.

Prerequisites: CSCI 112.

Terms Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.

CSCI 486 Artificial Intelligence3 Credits

Introduction to artificial intelligence programming with study of topics such as knowledge representation, expert systems, solution space search, non-deterministic algorithms (neural nets, genetic algorithms), etc. Programs will be written in a selected AI programming language such as Lisp or Prolog.

Prerequisites: CSCI 250; and MATH 151 or MATH 135.

CSCI 490 Software Engineering3 Credits

Exploration of the philosophy of software engineering. Software project planning, requirement analysis, software system design and strategies, software design tools, program and system testing, system maintenance, and economics are examined.

Prerequisites: CSCI 260 and CSCI 375.

Terms Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.

CSCI 494 Seminar1-3 Credits

Discussions of specialized topics by students, faculty, or visiting professors. One or two one-hour meetings per week.

Course may be taken 10 times for credit.

CSCI 495 Independent Study1-3 Credits

Course may be taken multiple times up to maximum of 6 credit hours.

CSCI 496 Topics:1-3 Credits

Course may be taken multiple times up to maximum of 15 credit hours.